Housing for fuse devices



June 15, 1943. w. D. KYLE 2,321,827

HOUSING FOR FUSE DEVICES Filed April 25, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l //////A f///////.' /A

INVENT OR. //ll//l/ D. KYLE BY mwa ATTORNEY June 15, 1943. w. D. KYLE HOUSING FOR FUSE DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1941 ATTORNEY -June 15, 1943. W. D. KYLE `2,321,827

HOUSING FOR FUSE DEVICES F wuz/fw D. Afm' @Zag/ad BY i V l Z ATTORNEY Patented June l5, 1943 HOUSING FOR FUSE DEVICES William D. Kyle, Lake Forest, Iii., assignor to Line Material Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation o! Delaware Application April 25, 1941, Serial N0. 390,298

(Cl. 20o-133) 20 Claims.

'This invention relates to` improvements in housings for fuse devices.

Conventional type fuse housings (made of porcelain or other suitable insulating material) are constructed as a one-piece unit and include a pair of spaced line terminals, one located in the upper end of the housing and the other located in the lower end of the housing, and are separated by means of an electrical creepage barrier which acts to increase the creepage distance between the line terminals.

It is well known that under constant weather exposure and electrical use the interior of the housing, including the creepage surface between the line terminals, becomes coated with foreign structure as that disclosed herein, but claimed more specifically therein than in this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view in side elevation, showing the improved housing. Y

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in side elevation, showing the device in open circuit position.

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation, partly in section, with the door removed.

Figs. 5 and 6 are views taken on the lines y 5-5 and 6-8 respectively of Fig. 1.

matter as, for example, vaporized parts of previously ruptured fuse links. This foreign matter serves as a conductive path between the terminals and provides conditions favorable to a fiashover between the live parts.

This invention is designed to overcome the above noted conditions, and, therefore, one object of this invention is to provide for a fuse cartridge a novel form of housing comprising spaced individual sections which are normally closed by a door when the cartridge is in circuit closing position, whereby an air gap between the live parts of the device prevents flashover when the cartridge is moved to open circuit position.

Another object is to provide for a fuse cartridge a novel form of housing comprising a relatively ilxed section enclosing one line terminal and a relatively movable biased section enclosing a second line terminal and normally held adjacent the fixed section by a fuse link in said cartridge, the biased section of the housing moving from the fixed section when the fuse link is ruptured, whereby the fiashover distance between the ter minals is increased following the rupture of the fuse link.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide for a dropout type of expulsion fuse cartridge a two-part housing, each enclosing aterminal and one of the parts being mounted for movement from the other and supporting the cartridge, the movable section being controlled by a fuse link in the tube, the tube normally latching the movable part of the housing against movement.

The housing disclosed in the copending application of William O. Schultz and Alwin G. Steinmayer, Serial No. 390,296 filed April 25, 1941 now Patent No. 2,296,653, issued September 22, 1942, for Fuse housing with air gap, is the same in Fig. 7 is a viewin front elevation, showing a cross-arm mounting of the improved housing and the arrangement of conductor leads thereto.

Like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

Referring to the several views, numeral I0 designates an upper housing section made of any suitable insulating material as, for example, porcelain. The housing section includes side walls II and I2, a rear wall I3, and a top wall Il. The housing section is open at its front and bottom. The side walls I I and I2 are each provided with conductor openings I5 extending downwardly to the exterior of the housing. The lower portion of each side wall terminates in a weather skirt I6 clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The exterior portion of the rear wall I3 is provided with a bracket mounting studV Ii cemented in the recess It, and on its interior face with a terminal mounting stud IS cemented in the recess 20. The lower end of the wall I3 terminates in a creepage barrier 2l vextending between the side walls il and I2.

A lower housing section 22, made of any suitable insulating material as, for example, porcelain, includes side walls 23 and 24, and a rear wall 25 which terminates at its upperv end in a creepage barrier 26 extending between the side walls 23 and 2|. open at its top, front, and bottom.

'I'he exterior portion of the rear wall 25 is provided with a pivot mounting arm 21 cemented in the recess 28, and on its interior face with a terminal mounting stud 20 and a hinge member 30 spaced below the stud and cemented in the recess 3l.

The hinge member includes a pair of spaced legs 32, each terminating in a pivot bearing receiving hook 33. A stop member 34 is disposed between the legs 32 in integral relation therewith and includes an alignment head 35 adapted for purposes hereinafter described.

The housing sections III and 22 are held in The housing section is cooperative relationship to each other by means of a -hinge assembly comprising a U-strap 2l including parallel spaced horizontal legs I1 and Il. The strap 2l is mounted on the stud l1 and is held in place as shown by the nut 22 drawn tightly against the spring washer 44. A second U-strap 4I including parallel spaced vertical legs I 42 is secured to the lower horizontal leg Il of 22 about the pin 44 as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The housing sections I0 and 22 are mounted to' any suitable support as, for example, a cross anni", partly shown. by means of a well known type of swivel hanger 4l comprising cooperating angle arms 49 bolted at their ends (not shown) to the cross arm and secured to the upper horizontal leg Il by means or the bolt Il. It will be noted that with the sections mounted in the manner described and as shown in Fig. 1, the lower section 22 is positioned to move by gravity away from the upper housing l0 and thereby introduce an extended gap Il between the sections as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The housing sections li and 22 are held against separation one from the other by means of a fuse cartridge and door assembly removably and pivotally mounted on the hinge member lll.

The assembly comprises a. door 52 made of any suitable insulating material as, for example, a phenolic condensation compound, and a fuse cartridge 53 slidably mounted on a sleevelike contact 54 secured adjacent the lower end of the door by means of screws B5.

' The contact 54 includes a gas barrier 54 adapted to close the lower end of the housing section 22 against gases and other foreign matter.

'I'he gas barrier 54 which extends downwardly and to one side of the cartridge 53 terminates in a pair of spaced and axially aligned apertured legs 51. 'A pivot pin 5l is rigidly held by the legs l1 and is received in the hooks 23 to=act as a hinge element about which the door assembly pivotally rotates.

The upper end ofthe fuse cartridge 53 is provided with a ferrule 59 having oppositely disposed contact shoulders It Y'and a closure cap 6I threaded thereon. The vlower end of the cartridge is provided with a toggle mechanism. The mechanism comprises a 'ring B3 rigidly secured to the cartridge 53 by means of the. pin 64. A rigid arm 85 extends downwardly and outwardly from the' ring to pivotally: support a link member I8 at l1. The link member 86 engages the pivot pin M at I8 and is held-.against pivotal rotation by means of the fuse link B9 mounted in the cartridge I3. The flexible leader 10 of the link is priing a pair of screws Il slidably received in the plate and threadedly engaging a contact plate l I. In this manner line conductors extending lnto the housing sections through the apertures Il are electrically connected to the terminals.

. An electric circuit is completed between the spaced terminal clips 12 and 10 by moving the fused cartridge and door assembly arcuately upward about the pivot pin 5I by means of a hot line stick inserted in the door manipulating ring l2. It may be noted at this time that the cart ridge l2 is held upwardly on the door by means oi' the link member 48 which engages the pivot pin 58 and is held in position by means of the leader 1l secured to the knurled nut 1l. By moving the assembly upwardly about the pin Il, the contact 54 is brought into frictlonal engagement with the spring clips 12. The upper side of the gas barrier Il engages the alignment head l5. thereby preventing relative movement between the assembly and the lower housing section 22 to move as a unit arcuately upwardly about the pivot pin 44. Further upward movement of the unit permits interlocking engagement of the closure cap Si with the spring contact clip 1l, thereby closing the circuit between the terminal clips .through the fuse link 69. It may be noted that the ends of the clip 16 are arcuately bent inwardly to securely grip and hold the cartridge and door assembly and lower housing section 22 upwardly against gravity in circuit closing position. It may further be noted that the biasing members 11 engage the upper end of the shoulders 60 to bias the cartridge 53 vertically downwardly. It is still further noted that the upper end of the lower housing section 22 is received within the weather skirt I6, thereby effecting a unitary housing for the cartridge 53; that the creepage barriers 2l and 26 are aligned in opposed relation and include an extensible air gap `I3 therebetween; and that the door 52 closes the cooperating with the gas barrier and housing sections to completely enclose the live electrical paris of the device. l

When an overload occurs on the circuit including the cutout, the fuse link blows at the fusible section 84, permitting the link member to pivot downwardly about the pin 61. As the link member pivots downwardly due to the biasing action of the contact members 11 on the shoulders 60, the hooked end 68 becomes disengaged from the pin 58 and the cartridge drops vertically downward in the sleeve portion on the contact 54. The closure cap 6I of the cartridge 52 is disengaged from the spring clip 1B and the door assembly and lower housing section 22 pivots 'by gravity downwardly, as a unit, about ythe pivot pin 44 into the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position the live terminal parts of the device are completely separated by means of the gap IL and flash-over due to creepage between front portion of each housing section, thereby the parts is eliminated.

It is also noted that the separated housing sections permit ease in visually locating the blown fuse.

The device is refused by disengaging the door `assembly from the lower section 22 by means of a hot line stick, not shown, inserted in the ring Q2 and pulling downwardly to disengage the lower spring contact 12 from the contact 54 and then removing the assembly from the hooks 33.

The closure cap 8| ls removed and a new link tion.

asuma? inserted in the cartridge il'. The cartridge is moved upwardly in the sleeve contact l to permit engagement of the hook end of the link mem- .ber with the pivot pin Il and then held in this position by securing the flexible leader of the link to the knurled nut 1l. The refused assembly is mounted on the lower unit in the manner hereinbefore described.

In Fig. 7 the fuse device is shown mounted by means of the support Il on a cross-arm Il (fragmentarily shown). The cross-arm is braced at Il and supports line insulators l1 to which line conductors ll and II are connected. Under any electrical arrangement of the fuse device as, for example, the use of the fuse device as a sectionalizing fuse, it is necessary to connect the conductor II to the lower section 22 in such a manner `that the lower section 22 is free to pivot away from the upper section' Ii. Should the fuse device be mounted in such a manner as to prevent pivotal movement of the lower section of the housing, the advantages of the sectional housing would not be realized under circuit open condi- Proper connection of the conductor lead l! to the lower section may be accomplished in several ways, one way being shown in Fig., 7 wherein the conductor lead I9 is formed in a loop at 90 before being attached to the lower section 22. This loop permits the housing `connected end of the conductor to swing freely with the section 22, thereby permitting the section 22 to move freely to gap extended position.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the objects of this invention have been at tained by providing for a fuse device a housing means comprising separable sections whereby under circuit interrupted condition the sections move apart to establish anextended gap between the live parts of the device.

I claim:

l. An insulating housing for a. fuse device, said housing comprising separable sections, means for mounting said sections one above the other, said means including a pivotv arm secured to the lower one of said sections, terminal members within each of said sections, and a fuse link electrically connecting said terminals and holding said lower section against pivotal movement away from the other of said sections.

2. An insulating housing for a fuse device, said housing comprising an upper and lower section, said upper section having an open bottom, said lower section having an open top, a pivot arm secured to said lower section, means for interconnecting with said arm to dispose said sections Vin co-operating relationship to each other, terminal members in each of said sections, and a fuse assembly mounted on said lower section and adapted to interconnect with said terminals to hold said sections against relative movement.

3. In a fuse device of the character described, a housing comprising a pair of relatively spaced sections, one oi which is supported and biased for movement from the other, a terminal in each prising a fixed upper section and a lower section normally disposed immediately below said upper section and separable therefrom by gravity, said sections being recessed, complementarily, to form, conjointly, a substantially continuous fuse-chamber, a pair of spaced'terminals, each carried by one of said sections individually, fuse structure mounted within said chamber. and including a fuse-link normally bridging said terminals, and means including said fuse structure and dependent upon the integrity of said fuse-link for normalls' supporting said lower section, against grav- Ltinuous fuse-chamber, a pair of spaced terminals within said chamber, each carried by one of said sections individually, fuse structure mounted within said chamber and including a fuse-link normally bridging said terminals, and means including said fuse structure and dependent upon the integrity of said fuse-link for normally supporting said lower section, againstgravity, in close propinquity to said upper section to maintain the continuity of said chamber.

6. In a housed fuse, a two-part housing comprising a ilxed upper section and a lower section normally disposed immediately below said upper section, a hinged mounting for said lower section. said lower section being movable by gravity about said hinged mounting and thus separable to a limited extent from said upper section, said sections being recessed, complementarily, to form, conjointly, a substantially continuous fuse-cham.- ber, a pair of spaced terminals within said chamber, each carried byone of said sections individually, fuse structure mounted within said chamber and including a fuse-link normally bridging said terminals, and means including said fuse structure and dependent upon the integrity oi said fuse-link for 'normally maintaining said lower section. against gravity, in close propinquity to said upper section to maintain the continuity of said chamber.

7. In a housed fuse, a two-part housing wherein at least one part is movable away from the other to eifect separation therebetween, at least one of said parts normally being subjected to a continuous urge to so separate from the other, means for limiting the extent of separation ben tween said parts, said parts being recessed individually to form, conjointly, a fuse-chamber, said housing parts each being open along one side to afford lateral access to said chamber, a pair of spaced terminals each carried by one of said parts. individually, within said chamber, said terminals being further separable in response to separation of said parts, and a fuse-link disposed within said chamber and interconnecting said terminals, said fuse-link serving to restrain said parts against separation, said parts being automatically separable in response to severance of said fuse-link.

8. In a housed fuse. a two-part housing wherein at least one part is movable away from the other to effect separation therebetween, at least one of said parts normally being subjected to a continuous urge to so separate from the other, means for limiting the extent of separation between said parts, said parts being recessed individually to form coniointly, a fuse-chamber, a pair of spaced terminals, each carried by one of said parts, individually, within said chamber and further separable in response to separation of said parts, an expulsion cartridge disposed within said chamber and bridging said parts, and means including a fuse-link for restraining said parts against separation. said fuse-link being housed within said cartridge and electrically in terconnecting said terminals.

9. In a housed fuse, a two-part housing `wherein one part is fixed and the other part is pivot- 'ally mounted to permit movement thereof away from the fixed part to effect separation therebetween, said pivotally mounted part normally being subjected to a continuous urge tending to separate it from the fixed part, means for limiting the extent of separation between said parts. said parts being recessed individually to form. conjointly, a fuse-chamber, said housing parts cach being open along one side to aiord lateral access to said chamber, a pair of spaced terminals each carried by one oi' said parts, individually, within said chamber, said terminals being further` separable in response to separation of said parts, and a fuse-link disposed within said chamber and interconnecting said terminals, said fuselink serving to restrain said parts against separation, said parts being automatically separable in response to severance of said fuse-link.

10. -In a housed fuse, a two-part housing wherein at least one part is pivotally mounted to permit movement thereof away from the other part to eifect separation'therebetween, said pivotally mounted part normally being subjected to a continuous urge tending to separate it from the other part, means for limiting the extent oi' separation between said parts, said parts being recessed individually to form, conjointly, a fusechamber, said housing parts each being open along one side to a'ord lateral access to said chamber, a pair oi' spaced terminals each carried by one 'of said parts, individually, within said chamber, said terminals being further separable in response to separation of said parts, an expulsion cartridge disposed within said chamber and bridging said parts, and a fuse-link enclosed within said cartridge and electrically interconnecting said terminalsysaid fuse-link being normally operative to restrain said housing parts against separation, said parts being automatically separable in response to severance of said fuselink.

ll. In a housed iuse. a two-part housing comprising an upper section and a lower section disposed below said upper section, at least one of said sections being movable away from the other to effect separation therebetween and normally subject to a continuously exerted urge tending to effect such separation, said sections being recessed complementarily, and a fuse-link bridging said sections and disposed within the aforesaid recesses. said fuse-link being normally operative to restrain said sections against separation.

12. In a housed fuse, a two part housing comprising an upper section and a lower section disposed below 'said upper section, one of said sections being iixed and the other movable away from the fixed section to effect separation therebetween, said movable sectionv being normally subject to a continuously exerted urge tending to efl'ect such separation, said sections being reprising an upper section and a lower section disposed below said upper section, one of said sections being fixed and the other movable away from the fixed section to enect separation therebetween, said movable section being normally subject to a continuously exerted urge tending to eiiect such separation, said sections being recessed complementarily, a pair of spaced terminals. one within the recess of each of said sections individually, and fuse structure bridging said sections and disposed at least partially within the recesses thereof, said fuse structure incessed complementarily, and a fuse-link bridgingA said sections and disposed within the aforesaid recesses, said fuse-link being normally operative to restrain said sections against separation.

13. In a housed fuse, a two-part housing comcluding an expulsion cartridge and a fuse-link within said cartridge, said fuse-link normally interconnecting said terminals and normally operative to restrain said movable section against movement away from said fixed section, said sections being automatically separable upon severance of said fuse-link, said sections each being open along one side to provide lateral access to said recesses and the fuse structure therein.

14. In a housed fuse, a two-part housing comprising an upper section and a lower section disposed below said upper section, one of said secf tions being fixed and the other movable away from the fixed section to effect separation therebetween, means for limiting the movement of said movable section relatively to said xed section, said movable section being normally subject to a continuously exerted urge tending to effect said separation, said sections being formed each with a recess complementary to the other, a pair of spaced terminals, each within the recess of each of said sections individually, fuse structure including an expulsion cartridgee and a fuse-link within said cartridge, said fuse structure bridging said sections and disposed at least partially within both said recesses conjointly, said terminals being normally interconnected by said fuse-link, said sections each being open.` along one side to provide access to said recesses4 and the fuse structure therein, and a door normally closing the open sides of said sections, said sections being automatically separable upon severance of said fuse-link.

l5. In a housed i'use, a two-part housing comprising an upper section and a lower section disposed below said upper section, one of said sections being ixed and the other hinged for limited movement away from the fixed section to eil'ect separation therebetween, said movable section being normally subject to a continuously exerted urge tending to effect said separationssaid sections being formed each with a recesscomplementary to the other, a pair of spaced terminals, each within the recess of each oisaid sections individually, fuse structure including an expulsion cartridge and a fuse-link within said cartridge. said fuse structure bridging said sections and disposed at least partially within both said recesses conjointly, said terminals being normally interconnected by said `fuse-link, said fuselink being normally operative to restrain said movable section against separation from said fixed section, said sections each being open along one side to provide access tosaid recesses and the fuse structure therein, and a door normally closing-the open sides of said sections, said sections. together with said terminals, being automatically separable upon severance oi' said fuse-link.

16. In a housed fuse, a two-part housingl comprising a fixed upper section and a lower section disposed below said upper section and separable therefrom by gravity, said sections being recessed, complementarily, to form, conjointly, a fusechamber, a pair of spaced terminals, each carried by one of said sections individually, fuse structure mounted within said chamber and including a fuse-link normally bridging said terminals, and means including said fuse structure and dependent upon the integrity of said fuselink for normally supporting said lower section against gravity.

17. In a housed fuse, a two-part housing comprising a xed upper section and a lower section disposed below said upper section and separable therefrom by gravity, means for limiting the extent to which said lower section can drop away from said upper section, said sections being recessed, complementarily, t form, conjointly, a fuse chamber, a pair of spaced terminals within said chamber, each carried by one of said sections individually, fuse structure mounted within said chamber and including a fuse-link normally bridging said terminals, and means including said fuse structure and dependent upon the integrity of said fuse-link for normally support ing said lower section against gravity.

18. The combination in a fuse cut-out, of a pair of housing members of dielectric material, each of said members having a recess constituting a chamber for the reception, individually. of the two ends of a fuse, structure exterior of said housing for supporting said members in mutual spaced relation, with their respective aforesaid recesses in complemental orientation, a pair of spaced terminals, each mounted. individually, within the recess of one of said members, and a fuse normally bridging said terminals, said members being operative to house at least the terminal ends oi' said fuse as well as said terminals while at the same time. by reason of their spaced relation, aording a greatly increased length of minimum path between said terminals along the surface oi' said members.

19. The combination in a fuse cut-out, of a pair of housing members of dielectric material, each of said members having a recess constituting a chamber for the reception, individually, of

the two ends of a fuse, structure exterior of said housing for supporting said members in mutual spaced relation, with their respective aforesaid recesses in complemental orientation, a pair of spaced terminals, each mounted, individually, within the recess of one of said members, a door hingedly supported at one end and spanning said members, said door forming, normally, a closure for one side of each said chambers and providing access to said chambers, and a dropout fuse normally bridging said members, said fuse including an expulsion cartridge and a fuselink extending through said cartridge and electrically interconnecting said terminals, the two ends of said cartridge being normally disposed within said chambers individually, said members being operative to house at least the terminal ends of said cartridge as well as said terminals while at the same time, by reason of the spac- '1n-g therebetween, affording a greatly increased length of minimum path between said terminal along the surface of said members.

20. 'Ihe combination in a fuse cut-cut, of a pair of adjacent housing members of dielectric material spaced to form a gap therebetween and telescoped at said gap to provide a rabbet-like joint inter-relating said members, each of said members having a recess constituting a chamber for the reception, individually, of the two ends of a fuse, structure exterior of said housing for supporting said members in the above-defined spaced relation, with their respective aforesaid recesses in complementa] orientation, a pair of spaced terminals, each mounted individually, within the recess of one of said members, and a fuse normally bridging said terminals, said members being operative to house at least the terminal ends of said fuse as well as said terminals while at the same time, by reason of the spacing therebetween, affording a greatly increased length of minimum path between said terminals along the surface of said members.

WILLIAM D. KYLE. 

